Duplicator



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J. E. NORMAN DUPLI CATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1926 Oct. 28, 1930.

0 O O 0 0 o M www Oct. 28, 1930. J. E. NORMAN 1,730,095

DUPLICATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1926 4"Sheets-Sheet 2 ji z afara/az Mf/ftdi Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUPLICATOR Application filed October 18, 1926, Seria1 No. 142,309, and in Great Britain October 81, 1925.

This invention relates to duplicators such as are employed for producing copies of letters, diagrams, drawings and thelike by the aid of a stencil sheetand inking means.

The invention concerns duplicators of the kind wherein a stencil lies upon an absorbent sheet supported by a perforated metal plate which rests upon an ink-loaded pad, the desired copies being taken upon the paper 1a which is laid upon the stencil and submitted to light pressure applied such as by means of a roller. In apparatus of this type the pad, plate and sheets are usually contained Within a shallow fiat tray, suitable clasping or other means being provided to hold the components in position. The invention may however, be also applied to duplicators of the rotary and rocking type.

The object of the present invention is to at improve duplicators of the kind referred to whereby copies in two or more colours or in two or more difierent inks may be made. For instance, it may be desired in each copy or reproduction to have some of the matter appear in one colour and the remainder in another colour. The improvement constituting the present invention enables this and similar results to be obtained at one operation.

According to the invention the absorbent ea sheet is divided into two or more sections each supplied by a separate ink pad underneath. The division is effected in such a manner as to prevent the ink spreading from one section to another. y

In conjunction with the divided sheet, means are provided to separate the ink pads, and as a further means of preventing the ink from spreading from one pad or sheet section to another, the perforated plate may be divided so as to form sections corresponding to those of the sheet and to the ink pads.

In further describing the invention references will be hereinafter made to the accompanyingdrawings wherein i Figure 1 is a plan of .an absorbent sheet constituted by a number of separate sections combined with a perforated plate divided into a corresponding number of sections.

Figure 2 is a plan of the main tray of the 0 duplicator containing separate ink pads for use in conjunction with the sheet and plate shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan of the complete duplicator.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a reproduction made by means of the im proved duplicator.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional details, and

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating modifications hereinafter described.

Figures 4, 6 and 7 are drawn toa larger scale and Figures 8 and 9 to a smaller scale than the remaining figures.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the absorbent sheet is cut into or made up of three separate sections 1, 1" and 1 which are attached to a perforated plate 2 divided so as to form partially separated sections corresponding to those of the sheets. Preferably the perforated plate is left whole and the division between or separation of the sections is effected by slots 3 cut in the plate. The absorbent sections or sheets may be attached to the perforated plate by turning their top and bottom edges 1 over the corresponding edges of the plate sections as represented in Figures 1 and 4 and securing them on the back of the plate by adhesive or in any other suitable manner.

The three sheet and plate sections have associated therewith corresponding ink pads 4, 4? and 4" the several pads being carried in the main tray 5 of the duplicator by separate auxiliary trays, 6, 6 and 6 positioned in the main tray with spaces or slots 7 between them which register with the slots 3 in the plate 2, when the latter is placed in the main tray over the ink pads as represented in Figures 3 and 4. The positions of the auxiliary trays with respect to each other are determined by distance pieces 8 which may be attached to the outer trays. so as to engage the opposing sides of the intermediate tray. The ink pads 4, 4 and their trays may be held down in the main tray by means of a longitudinal wire 9 or equivalent the ends of which are fixed in the opposite ends of the main tray, or in any other suitable manner such as by means of clips or equivalent devices on the main tray or auxiliary trays. Or the main tray may be divided into a number of compartments by means of partitions to carry the ink pads, and the partitions may be provided with clips or like devices to hold the pads in place.

In effect therefore there are provided three separate absorbent sheets and perforated plate sections in conjunction with three separate ink pads, the object being to provide gaps between adjacent sections and lnk pads, since, as will be readily understood. where there is a definite break or ap between the sections associated with ad acent ink pads, the tendency of the ink to spread or creep from one section to another will be reduced to a minimum if not entirely eliminated.

By loading the respective ink pads with inks of different colours, laying an appropriate stencil 10 on the absorbent sheet and applying a sheet of paper 11 to the stencil in the usual way a reproduction having, as represented in Figure 5, areas (indicated by rectangles a b and a) of printed matter in different colours can be produced at one running off.

The. stencil and perforated plate with the absorbent material thereon may be clasped down upon the inking pads in the main tray by an eccentric roller 12 rotatably mounted in the sides of said tray and operated by a handle 13, or in any other known manner.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the absorbent sheet 14 may consist of one piece of material divided into sections by a strip 15 of wax or celluloid. or strips when more than two sections are required, which may be applied to the sheet as shown or to the face of the perforated plate and the latter may, instead of being slotted corresponding- 1y. have a corresponding partition (or partitions) constituted by a metal strip 16 of L, (Figure 6) T, (Figure 7 or other suitable cross section attached to the underside of the plate. i. e. situated below and running in the same direction as the wax or celluloid strips. In conjunction with this construction a corresponding number of ink pads may be laid in the main tray. instead of in separate auxiliary trays, or compartments in the main tray, the strip 16, or each strip when more than one are employed being arranged to project downwards between the ink pads 4. 4 in the tray 5 and thus separate them. The said strip or strips may also rest upon the bottom of the tray so as to form a support'or supports for the perforated plate.

In the example illustrated the divisions between the sheet sections, plate sections and ink pads run transversely of the apparatus. Divisions may however be made in the manner described longitudinally or both longitudinally and transversely or in such other direction or directions as ma be necessary according to the result requlred. For example if I want to produce copies each having parts in four different colours or mks I may use four separate absorbent sheet sections attached to a perforated (plate having corresponding sections forme by cutting vertical and horizontal slots therein which may extend to within a short distance of the top and bottom and side edges without intersection at the centre of the plate, as represented diagrammaticall in Figure 8, and four ink pads containe in auxlliary tra s or compartments as aforesaid. When t e slots in the perforated plate do not intersect they may extend to and break through the edges of the plate but it is referable that a. narrow margin be left at t e outer ends so that the sections are thereby connected and the plate can be lifted as a whole. Alternatively the plate may be composed of a number of perforated sections, fastened together with gaps between. Or I may use an absorbent sheet divided into four sections by the wax or celluloid strips 15 as represented diagrammatically in Figure 9, in conjunction with a perforated plate (not shown) fitted with corresponding metal strips on the underside and corresponding ink pads.

The perforated plate may be provided with a wire loop or like member 17 whereby it can be lifted out of the main tray. Said loop or member may hook over the adjacent side of the tray when the plate is in position.

If desired separate perforated plates and attached absor ent sheets may be used in conjunction with separate ink pads so as to constitute units adapted for use two or more together in the same tray to enable the contrasting printing effect to be produced on two or more parts of the paper sheets at one running off, suitable means such as strips, distance pieces or the like being provided to separate the units in the tray and thereby form the desired gaps or spaces between them.

If desired the said units may be made movable to different positions, for instance up or down or from side to side. To this end the perforated sections may be fitted to side supports and be movable in relation to said supports. Or they may slide in grooves in the sides of the tray or be movably arranged in any suitable manner, the ink pads being movable in company therewith. Alternatively the perforated sections may be formed with downwardly bent sides, ends or both to fit over and separate the ink pads and to rest on the tray in which case they would be self supporting on the said bent portions.

With the improved apparatus I may use a combination stencil, i. e. a stencil having sections or parts of different character each suitable for a particular process. For example the stencil employed for type Written matter is usually different from that used for drawings and hand written matter. I provide a stencil with sections or parts suitable for difierent forms of writing or preparation so that in use the whole matter may be reproduced at one running off from the same stencil. The combination stencil may be made by appropriate treatment of the various parts on the same sheet, or it may be made by suitably joining together anumber of sections of the different stencil material.

What I claim then is 1. A duplicator comprising, in combination, a container tray, a perforated plate therein divided into definite and distinct areas, an absorbent sheet carried by said plate, said sheet being divided into a number of sections, ink pads corresponding in number with the said sections, said pads being contained in the tray underneath the plate, and means to separate the pads from each other, for the purpose descrlbed.

2. A duplicator comprising, in combination, a container tray, a perforated plate therein divided into definite and determined sections, an absorbent sheet for each section of the plate and applied to the top thereof, an ink pad underneath each section of the plate, and means to separate the ink pads from each other.

3. A duplicator comprising, in combination, a containing tray, a perforated plate therein divided into definite and distinct areas by slotting, an absorbent sheet attached to the upper face of each section, an ink pad underneath each-section and contained in the tray, and means to'separate the ink pads from each other.

4. A duplicator comprising, in combination, a container tray, separate trays therein, an ink pad in each separate tray, a perfo rated plate over said pads, said plate being formed into partially separated sections corresponding to the pads by means of one or more slots cut therein, and an absorbent sheet secured to each section of the plate. 5. A duplicator of the stencil type comprising, in combination, a main container tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a perforated plate covering said ink pads, a sectional absorbent sheet carried by the plate and comprising sections corresponding to the ink pads, and means to position the auxiliary trays in the main tray to correspond with the sections of the absorbent sheet.

6. A duplicator of the stencil type comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a perforated plate covering said ink pads, a sectional absorbent sheet carried by the plate, and comprising sections corresponding to the ink pads, distance pieces to determine the positions of the auxiliary trays with respect to each other,

and a wire engaging the main tray to hold the auxiliary trays down therein.

7. A duplicator comprising, in combination, a container tray, a perforated plate therein, said plate being slotted to form seetional areas therein, an absorbent sheet secured over the upper face of each area of the plate by being folded under said plate and astened, an ink pad underneath each area of the plate, and means to separate the ink pads from each other.

8. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliar tra .s, a perforated plate covering said ink p'a s, said plate being slotted to form sectional areas therein corresponding to the ink pads, an absorbent sheet secured over each area of the plate, and means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other.

9. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a perforated plate covering said ink pads, said plate being slotted to form sectional areas therein corresponding to the ink pads, an'absorbent sheet secured over each area of the plate, and distance pieces on the auxiliary trays to separate the latter.

10. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a perforated plate covering said ink pads, said plate being slotted to form sectional areas therein correspondin to the ink pads, an absorbent sheet secure over each area of the plate, means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other in the main tray, and means to hold the ink pads and auxiliary trays down therein.

11. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, aperforated plate covering said ink pads, said plate being slotted to form sectional areas therein corresponding to the ink pads, an absorbent sheet secured over each area of the plate, means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other in the main tray, and a wire extending along the main tray to hold the ink pads and auxiliary trays down therein.

1 2. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, 9. plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a perforated plate covering the ink pads and having sectional areas corresponding to the said pads, an absorbent sheet covering each of said sectional areas, means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other, means by which the perforated sheet can be lifted, and means to hold the ill) ink pads and auxiliary trays down in the main tra 13. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in said auxiliary trays, a erforated late covering the ink pads and aving sectlonal areas corresponding to the said pads, an absorbent sheet covering each of said areas, means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other, a wire loop on one side of the perforated late by which it may be raised rom the in pads, and a retaining wire in the main tray to hold the ink pads and auxiliar trays down in the main tray when the per orated plate is raised. 14. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination, a main t'ray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, ink pads in the auxiliary trays, means to separate the auxiliary trays from each other, a perforated plate covering the ink ads and having sectional areas correspon mg to the said pads, an absorbent sheet covering each of said areas, means by which the perforated plate may be lifted, means to hold the ink pads and auxiliary trays down in the main tra and an eccentric rod rotatably mounted in the main tray for clamping a stencil upon the plate.

15. A duplicator of the stencil type, comprising, in combination a main tray, a plurality of auxiliary trays therein, an ink pad in each auxiliary tray, distance pieces to sep- 5 arate the auxiliary trays from each other, a retaining wire in the main tray for holding the ink pads and auxiliary trays down therein, a perforated plate covering the ink pads, said plates being slotted to form sectional 40 areas therein corresponding to the ink pads, an absorbent sheet covering and secured in position over each area of the said plate, a

member on the plate for lifting same from the pads, and an eccentric rod mounted rotatably in the main tray, said rod having a handle by which it may be turned and being so arranged in the tra that it will serve as a clamp to hold a stenci in position for use on the perforated plate. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN EDWARD NORMAN. 

